Important Timely News
Retired Rick
Jan 21, 2024
FROM ETF:
The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) today announced 2023 preliminary returns for the fully funded, $132 billion Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).
The Core Fund, the larger of the two WRS trust funds with more than $122 billion in assets, ended the year with a preliminary one-year net return of 11.4% and a preliminary five-year net return of 9.3% The Core Funds 10-year and 20-year returns, net of external manager fees, continue to exceed its target return of 6.8% with SWIB outperforming the Core Fund benchmark for all these periods.
Strong absolute investment returns in four of the past five years are expected to result in a positive annuity adjustment for beneficiaries this spring and stable employer and employee contribution rates in 2025. SWIBs solid investment management has delivered positive annuity adjustments in nine of the past 10 years. According to a recent study by Pew Charitable Trusts, despite recent high inflation, WRS retirees have experienced more protection from inflation compared to the typical public retiree.
Significant market volatility over the past several years reinforces the importance of maintaining a fully funded pension system. Given the challenges investors continue to navigate, we remain focused on a long-term investment strategy for the WRS that is designed to weather a variety of market climates, said SWIB Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer Edwin Denson. We will maintain a disciplined process and stick to fundamentals to help ensure the pension fund can meet its obligations to WRS participants.
SWIB diversifies its assets among many types of public and private investments and actively manages its assets to grow and protect the WRS trust funds. Over the last 20 years, SWIBs active management and diversification generated over $29 billion for the Core Fund above what would have been earned in a low-cost passive portfolio consisting of 60% global equities and 40% domestic bonds. Further, SWIBs investment management has added value to the WRS trust funds of more than $3 billion above benchmark returns over the five years ending December 31, 2023.
The Variable Fund, an optional stock-only fund with more than $9 billion in assets, ended the year with a preliminary one-year net return of 22.2% and preliminary five-year net return of 12.7% The Variable Funds 10-year and 20-year returns, net of external manager fees, were 9.3% and 8.4%, respectively.
Du Wayne Gebken
Jan 15, 2024
Tom Heberlein died January 4, 2024. Here's a UW news release on Tom's passing. Tom did groundbreaking research on hunter behavior.
https://sociology.wisc.edu/2024/01/09/tom-heberlein-professor-emeritus-has-passed-away/
DuWayne Gebken
Jan 12, 2024
A news release on Lew's induction into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame can be found here.
https://www.stcroix360.com/2024/01/conservationist-to-be-honored-for-1950s-fight-against-namekagon-river-dam/
Retired Rick
Jan 12, 2024
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF EMERALD ASH BORER THIS WINTER
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages property owners to watch for woodpecker damage to their ash trees this winter. If damage is found, property owners should make plans to take action in the spring.
Woodpecker damage, often called flecking, happens when birds peck away some of a trees bark to access the larvae underneath. Flecking is a common early sign that an ash tree might be infested with emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect. EAB is the most damaging threat to Wisconsin trees, killing more than 99% of the untreated ash trees it infests.
Read More Here
Retired Rick
Jan 12, 2024
WISCONSIN NRB MEETING JAN. 24
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) will meet in-person for the January board meeting to consider several proposed rulemaking documents, a proposed land sale and donations.
The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, originating from public meeting room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF2), 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7-8 as listed on the agenda.
Read More Here
Retired Rick
Jan 9, 2024
DNR TO HOLD CAREER FAIRS AROUND THE STATE THROUGHOUT JANUARY
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites any member of the public interested in exploring a potential career with the DNR to attend any of four in-person career fairs taking place throughout the month of January. The fairs will be held in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Appleton and Stoughton starting Jan. 13.
The DNR employs passionate, knowledgeable and natural resource-focused individuals. Representatives from several divisions including parks, forestry, wildlife, conservation wardens and environmental management will be present.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the natural resource field and explore full-time and part-time job opportunities with the DNR.
Read More Here
Retired Rick
Jan 9, 2024
Subject: Steve Fajfer Funeral Arrangements
Good morning everybody. Ann passed along the funeral arrangements for Steve. A memorial celebration will be held February 17th at the WW2 Memorial building in Wautoma from 11 to 3:30.
www.hollyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Steven-Fajfer
Please feel free to pass the info along to any current and former staff and cooperating groups that knew and worked with Steve over the years.
Jess
Retired Rick
Jan 5, 2024
OUTWIGO FOR FREE FISHING WEEKEND JAN. 20-21
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting Free Fishing Weekend Jan. 20 21 to share the fun and excitement of winter fishing. No fishing license or trout and salmon stamps are required.
Anglers can fish in state waters where there is an open fishing season. All other fishing regulations apply, including limits on the size and number of fish that can be kept and any seasons when anglers must release certain fish species.
As a reminder, anglers cannot fish spring trout ponds during the winter Free Fishing Weekend. Please review the trout regulations and the 2023-2024 Hook and Line regulations for more information.
If you plan to keep fish, review the DNR's Safe Eating Guidelines to stay informed of potential consumption advisories impacting some waterbodies throughout the state.
Winter Fishing Reminders
Remember, no ice is 100% safe. Always tell someone where you are fishing and when you'll return before heading out on the ice. Also, check in with local bait shops for current ice conditions. If conditions are questionable, opt to cast to open water from shore.
Read More Here
Retired Rick
Jan 5, 2024
2024 STATE PARK ACCESSIBLE CABIN RESERVATIONS OPEN JAN. 10
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin accepting 2024 reservations for accessible cabins at Wisconsin state park properties the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Applications can be mailed or dropped off at the state park, forest or recreational area individuals wish to reserve. Mailed applications must have a postmark of Jan. 10, 2024 or later to be accepted.
Read More Here
Retired Rick
Dec 18, 2023
DNR SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2023 HUNTER AND ARCHERY EDUCATION AWARDS
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS IS FEB. 15
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting nominations for the 2023 Hunter Education Instructor of the Year, Hunter Education Group of the Year and Archery Education Instructor of the Year awards.
Current hunter and archery education instructors and hunter education groups that have significantly advanced hunter safety on a voluntary basis through extraordinary service are eligible to be nominated.
Read More Here
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